Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, October 1
Oct 1, 2009
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Prepare to pay more for Florida home insurance
Seven major Florida property insurers are asking to increase home insurance rates from 8 percent to 15 percent within the next year despite several years without serious storms.
CSX liability deal in Massachusetts puts Florida version in play
Last week the lieutenant governor of Massachusetts announced a multi-year rail transportation agreement with CSX Transportation.
Law governs ousting of derelict vessels
Waterfront owners often wish anchored boats would just sail away, but a law that takes effect today reasserts that local governments can’t oust captains for staying too long.
CFO Sink: Guilty plea by insurance senior scammer shows need for better protections
Florida CFO Alex Sink today reiterated her calls for Safeguard our Seniors legislation that would increase penalties against agents who defraud senior investors and establish better disclosures and protections, after a guilty plea by a Tampa Bay Area scammer resulted in no jail time.
CFO Sink announces arrest, confession of church arsonist
Florida CFO and State Fire Marshal Alex Sink today announced the arrest of Roderick Walker, 25, for the arson and burglary of the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Riviera Beach.
Minnesota AG Sues Fla. and Nevada Insurers for Alleged Fraudulent Activity
Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson is suing two out-of-state companies for selling allegedly fraudulent health insurance coverage to the uninsured.
USF gets nearly $1M for child health
The University of South Florida was awarded $988,177 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of a program to find and enroll children who are uninsured but eligible for either Medicaid or the Childrens Health Insurance Program.
Crist picks two outsiders to serve on Public Service Commission
In a move designed to reshape the embattled Public Service Commission, Gov. Charlie Crist on Thursday named a former newspaper editorial board member and a sheriff’s department finance director to the utility regulators’ panel, ousting two incumbents.
An act expanding insurance coverage for kidney transplants that is named for retired Miami Heat basketball star Alonzo Mourning is among 28 new laws going into effect Thursday.
Editorial: Ducking their duties
Gov. Charlie Crist and Attorney General Bill McCollum have put off until December any serious discussion of issues surrounding the state’s oversight of its investments, including its $110 billion pension fund.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Sansom committee set for next week
Rep. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, said the committee investigating the conduct of former House Speaker Ray Sansom will be meeting next week when lawmakers are in town, despite a delay in the criminal proceedings against the Destin Republican.
SEC Charges the Former CEO of Florida Software Company with Fraud
On September 29, 2009, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed fraud charges against Michael A. Rivers, the former Chief Executive Officer of IBSG International Inc., alleging he directed IBSG to issue multiple press releases announcing fictitious software licensing agreements and to file periodic reports with the Commission that falsely recognized more than $23 million in revenues from the purported agreements.
Governor Crist kicks off Florida Small Business Month in Orlando
Welcomes Waldorf Astoria to Florida, celebrates boost to tourism and small businesses
Governor Charlie Crist today kicked off Florida Small Business Month by attending the opening of the Waldorf Astoria Orlando. During his visit, Governor Crist applauded the economic benefits the hotel will bring to Florida’s tourism industry and surrounding small businesses.
New details of Broward corruption probe emerge
A week after a trio of Broward political figures were arrested in a federal corruption investigation, a Sunrise city commissioner confirmed that she assisted the FBI in the probe.
U.S. Senate Legislation Extends Flood Program
The Senate passed legislation today extending the controversial National Flood Insurance Program until Oct. 31 while talks continue on a more permanent reauthorization.
Rating Agencies Told They ‘Betray Public Trust,’ By Rep. Kanjorski
The chairman of a House Financial Services Subcommittee charged today that rating agencies betrayed not only the public trust “but also their special status under our laws.”
- Regulators Understandably Wary Of Rating Agencies
- Rating Agencies Tell Congress Increased Liability Is Unnecessary
Bernanke asks Congress to empower regulators
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke says federal regulators should be responsible for ensuring that the financial institutions they oversee don’t become so big and unwieldy that their failure could bring down the economy.
State regulators seek consumer protections for long-term care insurance
Federal Standards Updated Under New Plan on Capitol Hill
Members of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) offer their support of amendments for federal legislation they believe will strengthen consumer protections for long-term care policy holders.
Coventry, NY Attorney General, Agree to Settlement
Agreement Outlines Industry Best Practices; No Fine or Penalty Assessed Coventry First announced today that it has settled a civil lawsuit filed in October 2006 by the New York Attorney General’s office.
California regulators seize struggling insurer Golden State Mutual Life
Reporting from Sacramento – State insurance regulators today seized control of Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Co., a financially struggling company that has primarily served the African American community for the last 84 years.
Global specialty insurer Torus said it has established a managing general agency in Bermuda for its United Kingdom-based excess and surplus lines company, Torus Insurance (UK) Limited.
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